Sports

New African EPL signings to watch this season

Published

2 years ago

August 5, 2022

As the 2022/2023 English Premier League returns this weekend, fans of the club sides will be looking forward to see what the new faces in their teams will have to offer.

All the clubs used the off season to transact some transfer businesses by either bringing in new players or offloading those they deem surplus to requirements as they position to battle for the EPL title.

In the mix were a couple of African players who made the move to the league dubbed the most exciting in the world and as the season kicks off on Friday with Arsenal taking on London rivals, Crystal Palace, fans of the EPL on the continent would be looking forward to seeing what their stars would offer.

Afrocanewswatch brings you the African players who made the switch to the EPL.

Kalidou Koulibaly – Chelsea

The arrival of Kalidou Koulibaly from Napoli is about the biggest African signing this season and with Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen leaving Chelsea, the giant Senegalese defender is expected to fill the void in the heart of the Blue’s defence.

The 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) winner will team up with international teammate, Edouard Mendy and together, they hope to form a formidable backline for the Pensioners.

Taiwo Awoniyi – Nottingham Forest

Nottingham Forest must have played on a gamble when they forked out a club record £18.5 million on Nigerian striker, Taiwo Awoniyi to snap him from Union Berlin of Germany.

Awoniyi who was previously on the books of Liverpool was not given any chance to prove his worth as he was sent out on loan on more than four occasions until he left on a free transfer last summer and got the much deserved chance in Germany.

The big striker is now back in the EPL and much is expected of him as will lead the Forest attack in the new season.

After enjoyed a stellar season in the Bundesliga with 15 goals to show, Awoniyi should do enough to help the newly promoted Forest maintain its EPL status.

Joe Aribo – Southampton

Nigerian midfield maestro, Joe Aribo took many by surprise when he left Rangers of Scotland to Southampton.

However, football pundits see the move as an upgrade with the belief that he will develop better in the English Premier League.

Aribo also showed what he should be expected of him with a textbook wonder goal against Villarreal in a pre-season friendly game which has made watchers of the league sit up and take notice.

Aribo is no doubt a highly talented and technical player who will no doubt, add quality to the Southampton squad especially in the middle of the pack.

His eye for goal could make him one of the most effective midfielders outside the top six in the league this season.

Nayef Aguerd – West Ham

Moroccan international Nayef Aguerd’s £30 million move from Stade Rennais in the French Ligue 1 to West Ham underscores his rising profile as one of the continent’s finest defenders.

Though his start to life in the EPL will be delayed by an ankle injury he picked up in a pre-season friendly against Rangers of Scotland, but his return would add steel to the team hoping to battle the big boys for title.

Having proven himself in the Ligue 1 as one of the best center backs with his prowess in the air and bravery in going into tackles, Aguerd could be one of the best African signings in the the new season.

Boubacar Kamara – Aston Villa

Steven Gerrard’s Aston Villa pulled off a major coup when signing Boubacar Kamara on a free transfer from Olympique de Marseille with the aim of turning the club into a Champions League team.

The midfield grafter is one of the most talented players on the continent and will definitely add a different dimension to the Villa midfield.

Speaking about the player, Gerrard said:

“Kamara’s going to give us style, he’s going to give us a passing range that I didn’t feel we had.”

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Sports

Egyptian midfielder Elneny announces departure from Arsenal after eight years

Published

10 hours ago

May 18, 2024

Akanimoh Etim

Egypt and Arsenal midfielder, Mohamed Elneny, has announced his departure from the club at the end of this season after eight years at the North London club.

Elneny who made the announcement in a video on Friday, said he will depart the club following the expiration of his contract.

Elneny joined Arsenal from Swiss side Basel in 2016 and made 161 appearances but in the last two seasons, the Egyptian midfielder has struggled for playing time due to a combination of injuries and loss of form.

In 2019, under former manager Unai Emery, he was loaned out to Besiktas for the 2019-20 campaign, where he played 36 times for the Turkish side.

Upon returning to Arsenal, he found a more prominent role under new manager Mikel Arteta.

Elneny’s contract was due to expire at the end of last season, but Arsenal opted to extend it by an additional year. With this extension now coming to an end, it has been widely reported that the 31-year-old will leave the club this summer.

In the video on X, Elneny said:

“Gooners, I’m here today to send you a message. To say goodbye and thank you for everything you’ve done for me, the love, the support, and the kindness. I am really going to miss you so much and you will be in my heart forever.

“I wanted to say how much I love you and how much you mean to me. I will never forget the way you supported me. I am going to see you on Sunday at the Emirates Stadium to say goodbye face to face.”

He added that he would bid farewell to fans at the Emirates on Sunday as Arsenal host Everton in their final league match.

Though Elneny did not say where he would go after leaving Arsenal, it is believed he will be heading to the Saudi Arabian league to join a horde of elite players who have made the Saudi League the new football haven.

Sports

Ethiopian marathon legend Bekele returns to Olympics after 12-year absence

Published

2 days ago

May 17, 2024

Akanimoh Etim

After a 12-year absence on the international race circuit, Ethiopian marathon legend, Kenenisa Bekele, has announced that he will return for the 2024 Olympic Games in July after he was named in a 10-member team on Thursday.

The 41-year-old Bekele last competed in the London Games in 2012 when he finished fourth in the men’s 10,000m before he was overlooked for the 2016 and 2020 Olympics.

His surprise return to the Ethiopian team came after a remarkable second-place finish at the London Marathon in April which was enough to earn him a place for the Paris Olympics in a squad which also features women’s world record holder Tigist Assefa.

In his heydays, Bekele won three Olympic golds in the 5,000m and 10,000m, and is now expected to renew his rivalry with reigning Olympic champion and former world record holder, Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya who was also named in the Kenyan team.

In August 2003, Kipchoge dusted his Ethiopian rival when the two met for the first time at the Paris World Championships, holding on to win the 5,000m race, pipping Moroccan Hicham El Guerrouj into second place while Bekele finished third.

Bekele made his marathon debut in April 2014 when he produced the sixth-fastest run over the distance in Paris but his career has been hampered by injuries.

Other members of the Ethiopian men’s team for the Olympics are Sisay Lemma, the Valencia marathon champion, and Deresa Geleta, while 2023 New York marathon champion and 2022 world champion Tamirat Tola and Eusedin Mohammed, are standby reserves.